Cup Holder Mounted Toy

ABSTRACT

A plush toy with an end adapted to fit into a cup holder comprises a body with a head at one end, a base at another end, and a neck between the first and second end. The body from the base to the neck has a shape generally corresponding to the inside of a cup holder. The body is filled with a suitable material to provide adequate weight to anchor the plush toy within the cup holder.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority under U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/321,804, having a filing date ofApr. 7, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to an amusement device or toy adapted to mountwithin a cup holder. More specifically, the present invention is a softor plush toy with one end having a shape adapted to mount within astandard automobile cup holder or armchair cup holder.

2. Background of the Invention

Parents have struggled for generations to keep young childrenentertained during lengthy automobile trips. Conventional toys, however,are not well-suited for use by a young child while riding in anautomobile. Most toys are difficult to secure within the vehicle duringtravel, and typically move about the vehicle and away from the child'svicinity as the vehicle navigates rough terrain or takes sharp turns.Other toys are permanently fixed inside the vehicle, whether by asuction cup or other attachment on an automobile window or on a clipaffixed to the child's car seat. Permanently affixed toys can obstructthe view of the driver, and do not accommodate convenient substitutionwhen the child becomes bored with the toy.

Parents and other drivers of automobiles can likewise suffer fromboredom during tedious drives and lengthy commutes, in spite ofconventional automobile entertainment like music and radio broadcasts.These drivers may wish to display items in or on their vehicles forentertainment, or to express their interests or personality withoutpermanently altering their vehicle.

Conventional automobile toys and amusement devices lack a design thatallows them to fit securely and removably within a cup holder. Thus,there is a need for a removable, vehicle-mounted toy that can providesecure, convenient, and interchangeable entertainment to a young childduring automobile travel. There is a further need for a removable,vehicle-mounted toy that can provide amusement to drivers and allowtemporary personalization of an automobile. There is yet a further needfor a soft or plush toy that can be mounted into a standard sizeautomobile cup holder. There is still a further need for a soft or plushtoy that is in the shape of a doll, animal, insect, fictional characteror the like that is adapted to mount in a cup holder. It is to theseneeds and others that the present invention is directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is an amusement device or toy, and preferably asoft or plush toy, adapted to be removably mounted in a cup holder. In apreferred embodiment, the soft or plush toy can be mounted into astandard size automobile cup holder or armchair cup holder. The soft orplush toy is three-dimensional, and comprises a body with a head at oneend, a base at another end, and a neck between the first and second end.The body from the neck to the base is tapered, and has a shape generallycorresponding to the inside of a cup holder for a beverage. The portionof the toy from the neck to the base has generally smooth sides freefrom appendages or other protrusions. The body from the neck to the headcan optionally have one or more appendages and can be either wider ornarrower than the neck. The body is filled with a suitable material toprovide adequate weight to anchor the plush toy within the cup holder orto anchor the plush toy in an upright position. A separate, closablecompartment may be included within the body or head above the neck sothat items may be securely stored within the toy (i.e. currency orcandy).

The plush toy is placed into a cup holder with the base in a downwardposition until it is securely seated. The plush toy can then bereleased, and it will sit upright within the cup holder without furthersupport. When a user wishes to remove the plush toy to exchange it withanother or to replace it with a beverage, the plush toy can easily beremoved by gently lifting the toy upward away from the cup holder.

The construction of the plush toy allows it to be placed within a cupholder, as would be found in an automobile or chair armrest, and theshape and weight of the plush toy allow the toy to stay securely withinthe cup holder and to remain in such position with the head in a naturaland aesthetically pleasing pose. The shape of the plush toy furtherallows for easy mounting in and removal from the cup holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the plush toy in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the plush toy ofthe present invention in use, mounted in a cup holder of an automobile.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the plush toy in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the plush toy inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of another alternative embodiment of the plushtoy having multiple appendages in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments of the plush toy according to the presentinvention are shown in FIGS. 1 through 5. In a preferred embodiment, thepresent invention is a plush toy suitably shaped to allow the toy to beplaced securely into a cup holder, such as would be found in anautomobile, an airplane, a stroller, a movie theater, a child's carseat, and the like. With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a plush toy 10comprises a body 15 with a head 20 at a first end and a base 25 at asecond end. A neck 30 (shown at the dotted line in FIG. 1) is at ajuncture between the base 25 and the head 20. The head 20 is connectedto the remainder of the body 15 of the plush toy 10 at a juncture. Inone embodiment, the body 15 of the plush toy 10, from the plane of thejuncture of the head 20 to the bottom of the base 25, is generally inthe shape of two opposing elliptical paraboloids. The first ellipticalparaboloid shape forms a torso section 40 and is attached to the head 20at a first end, and to the neck 30 at a second end. The first end isrounded and has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a firstcircumference, and the second end has an elliptical horizontal crosssection of a greater second circumference. The second ellipticalparaboloid shape forms a mounting section 35 and is attached to the base25 at a first end, and the neck 30 at a second end. The first end has anelliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, and thesecond end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a greatersecond circumference.

Alternatively, the body 15 of the plush toy 10 is generally in the shapeof an elliptical paraboloid from the plane of the juncture of the head20 to the neck 30, and generally in the shape of an elliptical orconical frustum from the neck 30 to the base 25. The ellipticalparaboloid shape forming the torso section 40 is attached to the head 20at a first end, and to the neck 30 at a second end. The first end isrounded, and has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a firstcircumference, and the second end has an elliptical horizontal crosssection of a greater second circumference. The elliptical or conicalfrustum forms the mounting section 35 and is attached to the neck 30 ata first end, and the base 25 at a second end. The first end has anelliptical horizontal cross section of a greater first circumference,and the second end is formed by the base 25 in the general shape of anellipse (seen in number 25 in FIG. 3 and number 225 in FIG. 5) having alesser second circumference.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the mounting section 35corresponds generally to the shape of the interior of the cup holder 50,or is cylindrical or globular and adapted to be received by the cupholder 50. The plush toy 10 can be seen mounted within the cup holder 50in FIG. 2. Preferably, the mounting section 35 has no appendages 45 orother protrusions and is substantially smooth to allow the mountingsection 35 to be easily mounted in and removed from the cup holder 50.In other embodiments, sides of the mounting section 35 can incorporateridges, undulations, or other designs that do not substantially protrudeor interfere with the mounting of the plush toy 10.

In general, the body 15 from the neck 30 to the head 20 forms the torsosection 40, and can be either wider or narrower than the neck 30. In aone embodiment, the torso section 40 is wider than the neck 30, and iswider than the opening of the cup holder 50 such that the torso section40 protrudes over and covers the opening of the cup holder 50 forenhanced visual appeal. The torso section 40 optionally comprises one ormore appendages 45, which can be attached to the torso section 40, orcan be attached at a point above the neck 30.

The head 20 can be of any shape, including the shape of the head of adoll, animal, cartoon character, or the like. In a preferred embodiment,the head 20 is rounded and has a diameter that is less than the greatestdiameter of the torso section 40. The head 20 can also have any desireddecorations or features, like eyes, nose, ears, mouth, antennae, andhair. The head 20 or the torso section 40 can incorporate pockets (notshown) for holding coins, toys, or other small items.

The base 25 of the plush toy 10 is preferably rounded or circular andsubstantially flat to allow the plush toy 10 to balance and to be levelwhen placed upon the flat interior bottom surface of the cup holder 50.Alternatively, the base 25 is curved, rounded, semi-circular,elliptical, ovoid, or of another shape to substantially correspond tothe inside of the cup holder 50 in which the plush toy 10 is intended tobe mounted. Optionally, a weight can be integrated into the base 25 toprovide additional stability and security of the plush toy 10 whenmounted in the cup holder 50.

The appendages 45 can be hands, arms and hands, tentacles, claws,hooves, or any other such appendages corresponding to the overall lookand shape of the plush toy 10. The appendages 45 are attached above theneck 30 on the torso section 40 or the head 20, and can be of any lengthand can extend in any direction so long as the appendages 45 do notnegatively affect the mounting of the plush toy 10. In one embodiment,the appendages 45 extend outward or upward, generally in the directionof the head 20. In an alternative embodiment, the appendages 45 extenddownward, generally in the direction of the base 25, and preferably havea length that does not extend past the neck 30. Alternatively, thedownwardly extending appendages 45 have a length extending below theneck 30, and are positioned in a manner that does not negatively affectthe mounting of the plush toy 10.

In another embodiment, the body 15 of the plush toy 10 does not taper,but rather, is a substantially straight cylinder from the neck 30 to thebase 25. In this embodiment, the sides of the mounting section 35 extendin substantially straight lines from the neck 30 to the base 25. Thecircular base 25 corresponds roughly to the circular section at thebottom of the inside of the cup holder 50. Alternatively, the neck 30can be circular and the mounting section 35 can be spherical, such thatboth the neck 30 and the mounting section 35 form a half sphere. Therounded portion of the half sphere would serve as the base 25 and wouldbe received by and make contact with the bottom of the cup holder 50when the plush toy 10 is mounted. In these embodiments, the mountingsection 35 and/or the torso section 40 are radially symmetrical, and ina preferred embodiment, the mounting section 35 and the torso section 40are bilaterally symmetrical to enhance visual appeal and ease ofmanufacture.

The shape of the mounting section 35 can also be a cube or rectangularprism, with the base 25 having a flat, rounded, square, triangular, orrectangular shape. In this embodiment, the length of each side of thesquare or rectangular shape of the base 25 must fit within the openingof the cup holder 50. The cube or rectangular prism shaped mountingsection 35 is then attached to the torso section 40 at the neck 30.Preferably, the shape of the body 15 of the plush toy 10 would allow theplush toy 10 to sit upright on a flat surface in an orientation similarto its mounted orientation with no additional support. This provides theadvantage of allowing, for example, a young child to hold and play withthe plush toy 10 when it is not mounted in the cup holder 50 and todisplay the plush toy 10 outside of a motor vehicle. In theseembodiments, the mounting section 35 and/or the torso section 40 are notradially symmetrical, but optionally can each be bilaterally symmetricalas desired and needed to convey the intended shape and form of the plushtoy 10.

The plush toy 10 can be constructed by any conventional means,preferably by sewing, or by applying adhesive material or other closuresto a suitable fabric. In an alternative embodiment, the shape of thebody 15 is integrally molded, and the component parts are joinedthereby. After the plush toy 10 is sewn or formed into a satisfactoryshape, it can be stuffed with any suitable material like foam beads,beans, sand, buckwheat, a mixture of beads and polyester fibers, microbeads, polyvinylchloride, polyester, high density polyethylene,polypropylene, rubber, steel, or glass pellets, and the like.Alternatively, the toy 10 can be integrally molded and solid, and formedfrom any suitable material like plastic, silicone, and rubber, and canform a soft, malleable “stress reliever” filled with gels of differingdensities, cornstarch, closed-cell polyurethane foam rubber, and othermaterials known in the art. The mounting section 35 can alternatively beformed from one material, while the torso section 40 and/or head 20 areformed from another. For example, the mounting section 35 can be formedfrom plastic, wood, glass, or metal, and then it can be joined with thetorso section 40. Further, the torso section 40 can be joined to thehead 20 with screws, nails, an adhesive such as glue, by sewing,elastic, snaps, joint, or any other suitable method.

With reference to FIG. 4, in another alternative embodiment of the plushtoy 110 of the present invention, a body 115, including a mountingsection 135 and a torso section 140 joined at a neck 130, appendages145, and head 120, is generally in the shape of a baby or a doll. Themounting section 135 is substantially tapered, straight, and withoutprotrusions or appendages, and the base 125 is circular and flat.

With reference to FIG. 5, in yet another alternative embodiment of theplush toy 210 of the present invention, a body 215, including a mountingsection 235 and a torso section 240 joined at a neck 230, multipleappendages 245, and a head 220, is generally in the shape of an octopus.The mounting section 235 has a smaller diameter suitable for mounting ina different sized cup holder, is substantially tapered and straight, andhas no protrusions or appendages. The base 225 is circular and flat.Although a pig is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, a baby or doll is depictedin FIG. 4, and an octopus is depicted in FIG. 5, the plush toy 210 canbe formed into any desired shape or creature with the features describedherein in accordance with the present invention.

While this invention has been described with reference to preferredembodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations andmodifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of theinvention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.

1. A toy for mounting in a cup holder having a body with a first end anda second end, the body of the toy comprising: a) a head at the firstend; b) a torso section connected to the head; and c) a mounting sectionat the second end and connected to the torso section at a neck, themounting section further comprising; 1) sides, and 2) a base connectedto the mounting section at the second end, wherein the neck of themounting section has a circular horizontal cross section with a firstdiameter, and the base of the mounting section has a circular horizontalcross section with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter,and the sides of the mounting section angle from the neck to the base toform a cone frustum, and wherein the mounting section is free fromprotrusions and appendages.
 2. The toy of claim 1, wherein at least oneof the torso section, mounting section, and head is of a soft, plushconstruction.
 3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the body is formed from anintegral mold.
 4. The toy of claim 2, wherein at least one of the torsosection, mounting section, and head comprises: wood, plastic, glass,cloth, or rubber.
 5. The toy of claim 2, wherein at least one of thetorso section, mounting section, and head section is joined by sewing.6. The toy of claim 3, wherein the body of the toy contains a stuffingtherein, and wherein the stuffing provides adequate weight to anchor thetoy in an upright position.
 7. The toy of claim 1, wherein the basefurther comprises a weight.
 8. A plush toy for mounting in a cup holderhaving a body with a first and second end, the body comprising: a) ahead at the first end; b) a base at the second end; c) a neck betweenthe head and the base; d) a torso section between the head and the neckand connected thereto, and e) a mounting section between the neck andthe base and connected thereto, wherein the mounting section is freefrom protrusions and appendages, and wherein the mounting section isadapted to removably mount within a cup holder.
 9. The plush toy ofclaim 8, wherein the body of the plush toy from a point of connection ofthe head to the torso section to the bottom of the base is generally inthe shape of two opposing elliptical paraboloids.
 10. The plush toy ofclaim 9, wherein the first elliptical paraboloid shape forms the torsosection, is attached to the head at a first end, and is attached to theneck at a second end, wherein the first end is rounded and has anelliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, andwherein the second end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of asecond circumference greater than the first circumference.
 11. The plushtoy of claim 10, wherein the second elliptical paraboloid shape formsthe mounting section, is attached to the base at a first end, and isattached to the neck at a second end, wherein the first end has anelliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, andwherein the second end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of asecond circumference greater than the first circumference.
 12. The plushtoy of claim 8, wherein the body of the plush toy is generally in theshape of an elliptical paraboloid from a point of connection of the headto the torso section to the neck, and generally in the shape of anelliptical or conical frustum from the neck to the base.
 13. The plushtoy of claim 12, wherein the elliptical paraboloid shape forms the torsosection is attached to the head at a first end, and is attached to theneck at a second end, wherein the first end is rounded and has anelliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, andwherein the second end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of asecond circumference greater than the first circumference.
 14. The plushtoy of claim 13, wherein the elliptical or conical frustum forms themounting section, is attached to the neck at a first end, and isattached to the base at a second end, wherein the first end has anelliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, whereinthe second end is formed by the base, and wherein the base is in thegeneral shape of an ellipse having a second circumference less than thefirst circumference.
 15. The plush toy of claim 8, wherein the neck,mounting section, and base of the body form the shape of a half sphere.16. The plush toy of claim 8, wherein the mounting section and base ofthe body generally form the shape of a cylinder.
 17. The plush toy ofclaim 8, wherein the mounting section and base of the body generallyform the shape of a prism.
 18. The plush toy of claim 8, wherein thegreatest radius of the torso is greater than the radius of the neck. 19.A toy for mounting in a cup holder having a body, the body comprising:a) a head at a first end; b) a base at a second end; c) a neckconnecting the base and the head at a juncture; and d) a torso sectionbetween the head and the neck and connected thereto; e) a mountingsection between the neck and the base and connected thereto having ashape generally corresponding to the shape of the interior of a cupholder, and wherein the mounting section is capable of being removablymounted within the cup holder, and wherein the mounting section is freefrom protrusions and appendages.
 20. The toy of claim 19, wherein atleast one of the torso section, mounting section, and head are of asoft, plush construction.